Factors influencing interest and career choice in oral and maxillofacial surgery among clinical dental students and dental interns in a teaching hospital in Lagos, Nigeria: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Background: Oral and maxillofacial (OMF) surgery is a specialty that straddles both medicine and dentistry. Previous studies have reported it as the most attractive specialty to young dental professionals. However, a recent decline in interest in the specialty has been noted among practicing surgeons. The objective of the study is to determine the level of interest and the factors that influence interest in OMF surgery (OMFS) among clinical dental students and interns. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria, and the dental center, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. Participants were dental students in their penultimate and final year of undergraduate training and dental interns. The dental specialty of interest for future specialization and factors affecting interest in OMFS was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: A total of 84 dental students and interns aged 25.6 ± 2.18 years participated in the study. OMFS was the third highest specialty of interest (38.1%) after orthodontics (53.6%) and conservative dentistry (40.5%). Factors identified to positively correlate with interest in OMFS included empathy for patients in need of surgery (P = 0.013), academic and research opportunities (P = 0.034), presence of role model in OMFS (P = 0.002), prestige (P = 0.039), ability to obtain residency position (P = 0.002), career opportunities after residency (P = 0.021), and financial rewards after residency (P = 0.017). The only factor identified to negatively correlate with interest in OMFS was the length of work hours and call hours (P = 0.015). Conclusion: OMFS may no longer be the specialty of choice among young dental practitioners. Although several positive factors have been identified to increase interest, the major deterrent is the long working hours and call hours which may overshadow the positive factors.